After the symbolic unveiling of David's statue, all the citizens enjoyed the public festival. Once again, I gathered with the others just like at the previous celebration, sitting together on the same bench.
"Commander, if I'm not mistaken, have the suspects who were captured in the underground chamber already finished being interrogated in prison? Commander also said you wanted to visit that prison, right?" I asked Gruzhnil.
"Ahhh... You still remember that, Johann. Yes, they have finished being interrogated and are being held there, although I could not visit them because of this three-day work trip. However, I still received information from my subordinates there. They said that some of the suspects remembered that the bloodstains found there belonged to people from the outskirts of the city who had been kidnapped by the terrorists and used for a ritual contract with the Demon King to facilitate their plan to destroy the seal of the ancient portal. They also said that they threw the remains of the bodies into the forest to be eaten by packs of Groths."
"Ugghhh... They are so cruel! They should receive the harshest punishment possible for helping those barbaric terrorists!" exclaimed Sherubiel.
"B-But as far as I know, even though Groths are the most dangerous predators in the wild, they would never prey upon innocent citizens of Grivendal. That statement seems rather strange to me..." Glynpatra slightly disbelieved.
"What you said is correct, Princess Glynpatra. Actually, I feel they are hiding something from us, which is why I think they should remain detained there for further interrogation." said Gruzhnil.
I simply listened to their conversation, and what Glynpatra said made sense when I remembered the personality of their main leader, Greslan, who was far more than merely the strongest beast.
I saw David sitting beside me, quietly enjoying his lunch by himself.
"Oh right, Sherubiel and Mendicore, how was your first experience at the Research Agency? Have you already become involved in any new research projects?" I asked.
"Ah... At last you mentioned that. When we were there, the researchers were delighted by our presence. I immediately demonstrated my portal abilities, and without me even explaining the plan you mentioned some time ago, one of the department heads directly invited me to join an interplanetary portal project. I have already started working on it together with my team." said Mendicore.
"As for me, I explained that while I was still in High Heaven, I once helped create rapid-healing energy technology for angels injured in one of their body parts. I proposed that similar technology could be developed using just a single strand of hair, and once again they were very happy and enthusiastic about working with me to develop that device." Sherubiel said proudly.
I was immediately reminded of Sherubiel's controversial past. Only Mendicore, David, and I probably knew about this. The three of us had agreed not to speak of it, and David seemed indifferent to this horrifying fact. However, it appeared that Sherubiel could transform it into something far more honorable here.
"There is one more thing I want to mention. Through this research plan of mine, there's possibility of reconnecting dimensions to the Realm of Terror. I recently learned that Azkerath's corpse has been preserved at the research center. They hypothesize that there is still residual energy essence within the body that can be used to navigate a portal back to that realm..." said Mendicore.
Suddenly David, who had seemed absorbed in eating, stopped, sat upright, and stared sharply at Mendicore. I immediately understood that David didn't like this information. Everyone seated at our table suddenly became tense upon seeing his reaction.
"S-Sir, please calm down! Mendicore doesn't mean that Grivendal's researchers want to create a portal to there! They are only trying to find a solution to carry out The Graendall's and High Heaven's plan to strike back and capture Ruciphar. I already told you about this some time ago..." I tried to calm David beside me.
"M-My apologies, Lord David, if my words have offended you..." said Mendicore.
"Don't be reckless..." he said flatly before resuming his meal.
I could see everyone breathing a sigh of relief after David calmed down again. I knew that David deeply hated experiments like that, which fit with the game's lore, where his life had been completely changed because hellish portal invasions in his original world.
"Ohhh... Johann... Come on! Let's not talk about work while we're supposed to be having fun, hahahahaaa..." said Grelmure.
Everyone except David and me laughed at Grelmure's remark. I simply blushed with embarrassment because the tension had begun from my curiosity. We continued eating together and enjoying ourselves until the afternoon. Although the attractions here were not numerous than previous festival, I joined in, while David simply remained beside me in silence.
"We're going home..." he said to me when I finished enjoying another attraction and the sky began to show the colors of dusk.
"Oh, all right, sir..."
I informed Gruzhnil and he asked Grelmure to take us first. I also invited Mendicore and Sherubiel to return with us, but they still wanted to try one more attraction. Then I walked out together with David and Grelmure. Suddenly, from beside me, an elderly man approached us. I was surprised because I immediately recognized him.
"Mr. Thebes! I didn't know you would be attending here as well! If only we had met earlier..." I said happily.
"I'm very happy to meet young Johann again after this great disaster has ended. As it happens, I was invited by the other employees from the archives center, hahahaaa..."
When he saw David, Thebes immediately bowed before him and gave thanks for his ultimate contribution on that great war. David merely looked at him without making any comment. After that, I said goodbye to Thebes and left the festival grounds. We boarded the go-kart and arrived in front of David's house. I chose to get off there because I wanted to ask him something again. Fortunately, the area in front of his house was quiet.
"Sir, were you offended by what Mendicore said earlier? I once told about your past, and perhaps you fear that something similar to what happened on your home planet might happen here..."
"Don't worry..." David replied.
I smiled and felt relieved again after hearing that answer. I said goodbye and walked away from David toward my apartment. Every now and then I glanced back, and once again David merely stood there watching me. It had become his habit whenever I walked home like this.
The next day and thereafter, I continued my orientation as Gruzhnil's new secretary and officially began working with him. My work schedule was similar to the one in my home country. I had my own office beside his room, which had belonged to the previous secretary. At first glance, the main job description seemed simple, but at certain times I became overwhelmed by the number of tasks that had to be completed on the very same day, sometimes requiring me to work until late at night. I was not ashamed to ask the previous secretary for help. Grelmure no longer drove me around every day, as I now had a personal driver.
Even so, I still made time to visit David's house. Usually I visited him whenever the weekend arrived, taking David to amusement parks or to enjoy natural scenery. He seemed to understand that on weekdays I could not met him every day just to greet him, because my overtime works. Mendicore and Sherubiel had also become busy with their own work as researchers there, and the three of us never forgot to spend an entire day having fun every weekend as well.
One day while I was heading to work in my company car, I passed David's house. I was startled by an unusual sight and leaned closer to the window. Dozens of The Graendall soldiers, not only ordinary soldiers but elite ones as well, were praying in front of his house. What in the world was happening? I was used to seeing ordinary citizens doing such things, but this was extremely strange. I didn't ask the driver because he probably would not know either.
The oddities didn't stop there. Along the highway, I repeatedly saw posters of various sizes displaying illustrations of David heroically fighting those demons. I knew that back on Earth I had collected Hellraider posters myself. However, what disgusted me was that some people were actually praying to those posters. I had no words. I wanted to ask Gruzhnil immediately.
When I arrived at headquarters, I went straight to his office. By coincidence, he was sitting at his desk, and Grelmure was there as well. I immediately asked permission to sit across from him.
"Why do you seem worried today, Johann? Are you beginning to feel exhausted from serving as my new secretary? Would you like another secretary to assist you? I do feel that my schedule has become increasingly packed lately, and you often work late into the night. Just tell me!"
"Actually, that's not what I wanted to discuss right now, Commander. I saw something unusual today. In front of Sir David's house, soldiers from various divisions have begun worshipping there. There are also now many posters of Sir David along the roads. What's happening today, commander? Why don't I know about it?"
"Oh… So that is what is worrying you. First of all, I apologize, Johann, because this information was only delivered yesterday as well. High Priest Grishal has just learned from Archangel Geriel that the body of The Great Lord David has in fact become the vessel of Archangel Marsiel. We believe this contributed greatly to our victory in the previous battle. The Grunginus Spear also stands as proof that He was chosen as the successor of Him..."
"Emperor Gregustus has already ordered all personnel of The Graendall to continue their devotion to Archangel Marsiel through Lord David. As you know, He has been the chief protector of Grivendal civilization since ancient times, and we wish to remember Him forever." Gruzhnil explained.
A chill immediately ran through my body upon hearing that. What Mendicore had sensed regarding David's aura resembling Marsiel had become reality: Marsiel had truly merged with David's body. So... was this the true nature of his divine power?
Yet instead of feeling amazed, I became even more afraid that his current existence would make it much harder for me to prevent him from reaching the same tragic ending as in the game's storyline.